DC Comics owns all the characters. I'd buy 'em if I was rich.
Bruce's POV
Chapter II
Uncover information, find subject, make up a strange case that leads to nowhere, ask him on a date.
Batman's thoughts provoked his mind like a sword cutting through a wound. To go through this much trouble setting up a date with the red head seemed pathetic to his butler, Alfred, but in Bruce's mind, it was perfectly logical.
Keystone City listed Wally's full name as "Wallace Rudolph West". Batman already knew his name & secret identity: The Flash. The Fastest Man Alive.
The only man known to consume 60 cheeseburgers in under a minute.
He needed more information. Other than the basic information already provided of course. He needed to know what Wally liked, what he did for a living (besides being a forensic scientist), just anything besides "I'm a nice guy and secretly The Fastest Man Alive."
Good thing Wally's practically unaware I am Batman. He'll lose it. Then again...
Bruce questioned that the youngest member from the league 'actually' had a hard time figuring the caped crusader's real identity. The Fastest Man Alive isn't to be mistaken with The Dumbest Man Alive. Scientist, by default, are considered geniuses. Wally being one of them.
The man doubted the other members. Apart from J'onn and Superman, and possibly The Flash... Batman was Batman to the team. For all he knew, the rest of the members were puzzled by his long-kept secret identity. To his digression, not for long.
Superman's planned meeting would ruin his persona. He loathed the fact of coming clean to every founding member. He trusted them, yes. The anticipated blank stares and dropping jaws is what he hated. Bruce Wayne is Batman? No way!
"Can't be worse than Kent." He thought.
Anyone with a brain can guess Superman's identity.
"Your little frames aren't fooling everybody, especially your reporter friend, Clark." He recalled the day he first set eyes upon Krypton's famed hero. Oblivious to Batman's statement, his reply, stark. Clark knew Bruce is to The Dark Knight as Bruce knew Clark is to the Man of Steel. "Tell Louis of my identity and I'll tell the city of Gotham who you really are."
Bruce distinguished look told a different story. Clark, tell? He doesn't have it in him. Too much of a nice guy if you ask me.
Clark kept his secret years before joining him at the ranks of the newly-formed Justice League.
Batman shifted his attention to the glowing screen ahead. Wally had been a mystery up to this point. His background, that is.
Knowing he's The Flash was simple: they both had the same accent/voice. Besides a few records of him attending high school, enrolling in college and eventually becoming a scientist, Bruce had little information about the guy.
I have to find a way to meet with him. Visiting him would be too simple. I'm doing this Batman style.
He dug through Gotham's files, scanning for an unopened case as part of his plan. Several clicks later, a perfect candidate popped up on the screen.
'Two-Face.'
Perfect because Batman tossed the villain in Arkham Asylum. Gotham didn't bother to open the case because they thought the guy simply disappeared. That and they're too lazy to check the records.
Regardless, the Dark Knight solved it ages ago.
The irony: clear as ever, vague to the ignorant.
He picked up the phone near the desk and proceeded to call Commissioner Gordon.
"Gordon, I've got a favour for you."
"Hnmg." He coughed. "Who is this?"
"Gotham's billionaire playboy."
Gordon recognised the voice instantly. "Bruce! What can I do for you?"
"When you can, check your email. I sent some documents that need to be forwarded to the Keystone Police Department. A friend of mine gave me information about a new investigation in Gotham that Keystone could help us solve."
Bruce didn't tell the man he hacked in to his account and sent the message anyway. He knew Gordon.
"I'm sorry Bruce. I'm on duty in four minutes. I'll send it when I have time."
He put the phone back in place and stalked out of the cave.
Phase one - complete.
"Alfred," he called out. "Schedule a meeting with the Commissioner from Keystone PD to meet with a certain Bruce Wayne. I've got matters to discuss."
"Already scheduled, sir."
"Meetings" at Wayne Enterprises
"I called you today, David" he said while keeping a wistful eye on the puzzled guest. "To help Gotham with a case. More like unsolved mystery."
"Why me?"
Plain and simple: you have a special someone I need.
"I figured you a perfect candidate. Unless you've got other things to do?"
Hopefully, you do.
"The holidays are coming up soon, Bruce. Christmas to be exact. Do you think I can send someone else?"
Jackpot.
That's my plan.
"Who do you have in mind?"
"Considering most of our staff is off, our forensic scientist remains my only choice. He goes by the name of Wally West. I'm pretty sure you've heard of him before, Mr. Wayne."
The guy from the Justice League. Yea, I know of him.
"I have not."
"Really? Everyone in KC knows Wally! He's the nicest guy around. No word of him has spread around Gotham?"
"As far as I'm concerned, I haven't heard a peep."
"I tell you what, Mr. Wayne, how about you get a chance to meet him? I'll have Keystone PD assign him a place of temporary residence and hand you the address to the house. Since Gotham needs an outsider to help with a unsolved crime, might as well give him a place to stay while it's solved, right?"
"You're giving me the address to someone I haven't even met?" To you, we're total strangers. I could have tracked Wally down myself.
"That's the point, Bruce. C'mon, don't pretend to be surprised! Wally enjoys company! He hardly
knows anyone here, 'cept bits of information about a certain celebrity: You. Okay, I lied. To be honest, I think West hasn't even heard of you."
I think 'West' is lying.
"Send him over then, David. Thank you for your time." In other words, thank you for revealing information I already know about.
Glances and Chances
Bruce parked his vehicle fifteen cars away from the yellow and black striped taxi cab containing his 'guest'. He watched Wally stumble as he made his way to the brightly coloured house The six foot man scanned his surroundings before unlocking and proceeding through the doorway.
This gave Bruce plenty of time to think.
Handsome guy. KPD didn't tell me he looked like a model. Now all I have to do is wait.
And so he waited. Twenty minutes to be exact. He turned the ignition on and shifted in to gear. Seconds later, Bruce found himself in front of Wally's doorstep. He knocked on the door.
The door swiftly opened. An equally shocked Wally stood by the frame.
"Can I help you?" The bewildered man asked.
Finally, Bruce brought himself to initiate the conversation. He smiled, letting his charm work on the green-eyed specimen. "More like 'can I help you'. You didn't respond for an entire minute."
Is that the best you can do Bruce?
Wally faltered. "I-uh, yea. Who are you?"
Bruce took out his hand, "My name's Bruce. Bruce Wayne."
I already know your name, there's no need for an introduction.
Wally responded, "Nice to meet you, Bruce. My name's Wally. What brings you here?" He shook hands with the man. "I was in the neighbourhood."
The speedster snorted, oblivious from the real meaning of the statement. "Okay, Spidey. Mary Jane's on the next side of town, in case your wondering. Did ya mistaken me for her? Mutant-spider-human's and their obsessions for red heads."
Spider, no. Obssessed with red-heads? Spot on, Wallace.
Bruce laughed along to Wally's sarcastic reply. "Mary Jane's not my type. Besides, a certain Commissioner David Penchant called me and told me a new resident moved here. I figured a warm welcome from Gotham's finest would help you feel more at home while you enjoy your stay." He then gestured his hand towards the Ferrari parked along the driveway. "By warm welcome, I meant a date."
The red-haired man's jaw dropped upon laying sight on the foreign import. "I-I-I...wait a minute, do you work with Keystone City Police? Why would he tell you I'm here?"
You're the questionable one, aren't you stud?
"Let's say I'm in connection with them. You ask too many questions."
A wicked smile ebbed across the billionaire's face as he spoke. "I've been working closely with a case similar to yours. In fact, my whole team has been. It seemed fair that David told me who was involved with it. Since you were the only one he sent, why not invite Keystone's greatest forensic scientist for dinner?"
"You, Gotham's most eligible bachelor, am asking me out on a date?"
Surprised?
"Is that a problem?"
"No, I mean-it's out of the blue. I just got here and-" Wally's chance to speak, soon cut off by lips colliding with his own. "I'll get my coat."
Bruce ran his finger's through the slender man's red hair. "May I escort you to the car?"
"I'm pretty sure I can walk on my own, thank you for the common courtesy. I'm a big boy now."
"Penchant warned me of your quip comebacks."
"Did he now?"
"That he did. He failed to mention he sent a runaway model instead of a real scientist."
Wally flashed his signature smile at the handsome gentleman. "You're just saying that." He drawled out the words, blushing all at the same time.
"I never lie." Bruce reached over for the man's free hand in attempt, Wally accepted the invitation as their fingers intertwined. "So, Bruce...can I drive?"
Ha. The Flash can drive?
"Maybe on the next date. Get in."
"Next date?" He said while opening the door and climbing in.
"Your boss gave me orders."
"Now you're bluffing."
"Do you want a second date, Wally?"
"I, um, yea. I do."
"Loss of words, I take it."
"Oh hush you. Let's go out to eat. Know of any good places? I'm kinda short on cash right now."
"I have a place in mind. I invited you, Wally. Meaning I will pay for the date. Maybe I'll even take you home with me."
Bruce watched Wally's eyes light up with excitement. "To your castle? I can't say I'm not flattered, 'cause I am. Am I really that desirable to you?"
You have no idea.
"Speak for yourself, your astonishing."
"Wooing must be one your strongest qualities, huh?"
Trust me, I have many more if you follow me home...
"One of my many qualities. I'll take you to my favourite bistro. I doubt you would like to be surrounded by snobs and paparazzi at the bigger restaurants. That okay with you?"
"Sure, sure. Instead of talking, let's get a move on. I'm hungry, Bruce!"
Soon Bruce found himself on the road with Wally leaning on his shoulder.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all. David's right, Wally is an all-around nice guy. Flattering, too.
He parked in the nearly vacant lot near Tony's Bistro. Usher's by the name 'Shawn' and 'Penny' greeted the couples and escorted them out of the vehicle. Bruce tipped a Ben Franklin to both employees. They shrilled in delight. "Mr. Wayne, you and your significant follow us this way please."